Published on Tuesday, 3 September 2024 at 1:27:26 PM

The Shire of Dardanup is urging residents to inspect their trees for signs of the destructive Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) after the beetle was detected outside of the quarantine area.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has confirmed that the beetle has spread beyond the official quarantine area, initially established in an effort to eradicate it, however it has not spread outside of the Perth metropolitan area.

Shire President Cr Tyrrell Gardiner said this spread is a serious concern as PSHB can kill a tree within two years, turning once-healthy trees into safety hazards due to falling branches.

He emphasised the critical importance of early detection and urged the public to be vigilant.

Residents are urged to not move any wood or plant materials from the Perth metropolitan area into the Shire of Dardanup.

"This beetle poses a significant threat to our local environment. We need the community’s help to stop the spread by regularly checking their trees for signs of infestation and reporting any suspicious activity immediately to the Department," Cr Gardiner stated.

“While there have been no sightings of the beetle in our Shire, it’s important we are aware of the potential threat and are able to detect and report possible early sighting.”

Native to Southeast Asia, the PSHB beetle attacks a wide range of trees by burrowing into trunks, stems, and branches. The beetle has a symbiotic relationship with a Fusarium fungus, which it cultivates inside the tree to feed itself and its larvae. Unfortunately, this fungus can destroy the vascular tissue of trees, leading to dieback and eventual tree death.

There are currently no effective chemical treatments for PSHB. Therefore, early diagnosis, followed by the prompt removal or pruning of affected trees, is crucial to limiting the beetle’s spread and mitigating future impacts on surrounding vegetation.

Residents are encouraged to inspect their backyard trees for any signs of borer damage and to report their findings to DPIRD’s Pest and Disease Information Service by calling (08) 9368 3080, emailing padis@dpird.wa.gov.au or using the MyPestGuide Reporter app. For more information on PSHB and how to identify it, visit the DPIRD webpage at www.agric.wa.gov.au/borer

To help contain spread of PSHB, people living and working in the quarantine area must not move any wood or plant material outside of the quarantine area.

Wood and plant material includes:

- bark

- firewood

- tree prunings

- logs

- wood

- wood chips

- mulch

- potted plants

- plant cuttings.

Note: wood chips smaller than 2.5cm wide and living plants with woody stems smaller than 2cm wide CAN be moved outside of the quarantine area.

Media contact: Tahnia Creedon, Communications Officer | tahnia.creedon@dardanup.wa.gov.au | 0436 942 509.

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